Grenade.



N. LEE.

GRNADE.

APPLICATION VFILED JULY'5. |917.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

UNiTEn sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

NIXON LEE, OF BROOKLY'N, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SEARS-CROSS COMPANY, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GRENADE.

Specification cf LettersPatent.

Patented J an. 21, 1919.

Application led July 5, 1917. Serial No. 178,553.

reduce, if not altogether eliminate, the.

danger of premature explosion due to the grenade being accidentally dropped from the hand or from any other cause. In hand grenades constructed according to my invention the spring-impelled striker for the liring mechanism is normally held in inoperative position by a lever arranged externally of the body of the grenade, which lever is adapted to be held in retracted relation vices. When the hand has grasped the ody of the grenade the lever is held in its re- Y tracted position, after the retaining devices have been removed to release the lever, by the free end of the lever resting in the hollow of the hand, and the lever itself is re leased and flies outwardly from the grenade in the act of hurling the grenade. According to one feature of my invention I have provided a novel and improved combination of safety devices which are successively and dependently actuated in throwing the firingpin into operative relationship with the spring-impelled striker thereby affording the maximum of security in the manipulation of the grenade preparatory to its hurl- 2(lnother feature of my improved grenade is to so construct and combine the different parts comprising the grenade that the chamber for the high explosive, as well as the tubular housing for the cap, fuse and detonator, may b e readily sealed and water proofed from surrounding dampness and' moisture.

I attain these advantageous results by the grenade shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevatlon of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the cap and its associated devices;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cap and devices shown in'Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation of the cap w1th some of its devices in a different position from that shown in Fig. 1; and

Flg. 54 is an enlarged detail view taken on the line 5-5 shown in Fig. l.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring tothe drawings, 6 indicates the usual form of the hollow body of a hand grenade having the cap 7 at its lower end 'closing the chamber 8 for the high explosive material as shown in Fig. 1. The opposite end of the chamber 8 is closed by the rotatable cap member 9 screw-threaded at 10 and adapted to be tightly screwed in the opening 11 formed in the top of the grenade. Concentrically mounted in the cap 9 is the tubular housing 12 which is screw-threaded in the cap 9 as shown; the housing 12 extends within the chamber 8 and on its upper end the annular plate 13 is securely mounted and sealed. The plate 13 concentrically carries the percussion cap 14 which fits tightlyuin the plate 13 and from the cap 1-1 depends the time fuse 15 which is in communication with the detonator charge 16 contained in the lower end of the housing 12 as shown in Fig. 1. i

The upper end of the cap 9 is preferably constructed in the form of a cylindrical hood 17 which'contains within itself the striker 18 which is impelled or forced downwardly when released, by the spring 19 coiled within the striker 18 as shown 1n Figs. 1 and 4, one end bearing against the top of the hood 17 and the other spring end bearing on the lower end of the striker 18. The striker 18 is provided with a hammer 20 concentrically mounted on the under surface of the lower end as shown. The striker 18 is maintained in its up'per or retracted position in which the coil spring 19 is under tension by the external lever 21, the inner'end 22 of which is adapted to engage the lower rim 23 of the striker 18 as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 4. The lever 21 has the hooked fulcrum 24 providing a recess 25 for the pivot bearing 26 transversely secured across the slotted shoulder 27 upwardly extending from the cap 9 as shown. The lever 21 extends downardly around the body 6 of .the grenade, 1d its free end'28 is adapted to rest in the allow of the hand when the grenade is rasped by v the operator preparatory to urling.

Extending transversely across the lower 1d of the cap 9, and integraltherewith, is 1e tubular housing 29 open at both ends nd into which is tted the vsliding bolt 30, ilapted to be manually reciprocated within 1e housing 29. The bolt 30 carries in the ertical slot 31y the firing-pin 32 which is eld in its normal retracted position as iown, by means of a fine wire 33, preferbly made of copper, extending laterally irough the pin 32 and through the two opositely disposed holes.y 34 extending laterlly through the bolt asshown in Fig. 5. he right-hand end of the bolt 30 has the ertieal slot 35 formed therein in vwhich slot he lever 21 is retained in its retracted posi- ILon by the split-pin 36 passing laterally hrough the perforations 37 in the bolt 30 nd also through the hole 38 formed in the ever 21. The left-hand end of the bolt 30 ,as the laterally extending perforation 39 vhich registers with the transverse slot 40 ormed inthe side of the housing 29. Verically above the middle point of the slot 40 s the perforation, 41 laterally extending hroughthe lug 42 preferably an integral art of the cap 9 as shown. 43 designates he spring latch-pin preferably constructed f lighter material than the split-,pin 36 and s laving the two prongs 44 and 45, the upper rong44 passing through the perforation 41- Lnd the lower prong 45 passing through the )erforation 39 and slot 40, as shown. 'In ig. l theA prong 45 is shown in its right in- :lined position in which the bolt 30 extends .oward the right thereby holding the firing- 311132 out of vertical kalinement with the l)ercussion cap 14 and-the hammer 20; Fig. L shows the bolt 30 moved to its left position' ;hr'ough the twisting of the latch-pin 43 in which the prong 45 rests at the left end of ;he Slot 40,` thereby bringing the firing-pin' in operative position between the percussion cap 14 and the hammer 20. It will be noted -that before the bolt 30 can be moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, the split-pin 36 must be removed from its lever-retaining position shown in Fig. 1 thereby placing the perforations 37 out of alinement with the hole 38 in thelever 21 as shownin Fig. 4,

the lever being then held in itsv retracted position only by its free end 28 bearing against the operators hand which grasps the grenade.V

In -making ready the grenade for hurling,

the thrower ir'st grasps the grenade so that' the lever end 28 bears against the hollow 'of his hand, and then ythe split-pin 36 is withdrawn bythe other hand; in so doing thel grenade often sllps from the hand in which case the lever 21 flies outwardly as shown Ain dotted lines in Fig. 1 releasing'the spring-impelled striker 18 thereby causing the premature explosion if the ringpin32 were, in operative position. should be noted that in my improved device, should the lever 21 slip and iiy outwardly to release the striker mechanism, the pin 32 is out of vertical alinernent between the percussion cap 14 and the hammer 20, and no explosion could take place. However, when the split-pin 36 has been properly removed,

and the lever end 28 is securely held by the hand, the operator then readilyy twists the latch-pin 43 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4 thereby shifting the bolt 30 with the ring-pin 32 to the left so as to bring the latter into operative position.

over the percussion cap 14 without endangering his grasp on the grenade. When the grenade is hurled, the vlever 21 iies outwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thereby releasing the striker 18 `which is impelled downwardly by the spring 19 as shown in' dotted lines; the striker 18` However, -it4 'drives the pin 32 on the percussion cap 14,

sliding-bolt which not only carries the firingpin out of operative position while the splitpin is being removed, but alsoallows the .firing-pin tobe moved into operative position at the will of the operator after heis assured that he has a'rm grasp of the gre- 4nade body 6 and the lever end 28.

My grenade may be readily waterproofed and sealed in that the screw-threaded cap 9, tubular housing 12, annular plate 13, and percussion cap 14 lmay all be combined and fastened together so as toprovide a watertight construction which has obvious advantages in trench warfare.

. It will be understood thatthe grenade construction herein shown and described may be `variously modified and changed without departing from the principle 'and scope of my invention, and it'lwill be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular form except in so far as such `limitations are set forth in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A grenade comprising means for explodingA the grenade, fstriker. movable in relation thereto, and means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position but directly movable into operative position with the striker and exploding means at will.

2. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a spring-impelled striker movable in relation thereto, and means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position but directly movable into operative position Vwith the striker and exploding means at will. l

3. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a spring-impelled striker movable in relation thereto, and means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative'position but directly and manually movable into operative position with the striker and exploding means at will. l

4. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a striker movable in relation thereto, and reciprocable means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position but directly movable into operative position with the striker and exploding means at will.

5. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a striker movable in relation thereto, and reciprocable means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and` held normally in inoperative position but directly and manually movable into operative position with the striker and exploding means at will.

6. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a striker movable in relation thereto, a lever disposed externally of the grenade to control said striker, means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position and movable into operative position with the striker and exploding means at will, and means engaging said last mentioned means to hold the lever in its striker-controlling position.

7. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a striker movable in relation thereto, a lever disposed externally of the grenade to control said striker, reciprocable means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position and movable into operative position with the striker and exploding means at will, and means engaging said last mentioned means to hold the lever in its striker-controlling position.

8. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a striker movable in relation thereto, a lever disposed externally of the grenade to control said striker, reciprocableI means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position and manually movable into operative position with the striker and exploding means at will, and means engaging said last mentioned means to hold the lever in its striker-controlling position.

9. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, aV striker movable in relation thereto, a lever disposed externally of the grenade to control said striker, means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position and movable into operative position with the striker and firing means at will, and means engaging said last mentioned means to hold the lever in its striker-controlling position and said means in its inoperative position.

10. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a striker movable in relation thereto, a lever disposed externally of the grenade to control said striker, reciprocable means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and heldnormally in inoperative position and movable into opera- I interposed between' said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position and movable into operative position with the striker and firing means, means for releasing said striker controlling means and said lastmentioned means vfrom its inoperative position, and means for moving said interposed means into operative position.

12. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a striker movable in relation thereto, means disposed externally of the grenade to control the striker,means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position and movable into' operative position with the striker and firing means, means for releasing said striker controlling means and said last-mentioned means from lits inoperative position and means for thereafter moving said interposed means into operative position.

13. A grenade comprising means for extion, and means for moving said interposed means into operative position at will.

14. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a striker movable in relation thereto, means disposed externally ofthe grenade to control the striker, means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and `held normally in inoperative position and movable into operative position with. the

striker and firing means, means for releasling said striker controlling means and saidA last-mentioned means from its inoperative.

position, and means for thereafter moving said interposed means into operative posi-- tion at will.

1 5. AI grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a striker movable in relation thereto, means disposed externally of the grenade to control the striker, reciprocable means interposed between said striker and. saidl exploding means to disvcharge the latter` and held normally in inoperative position and movable into operative position with the striker and exploding means, means for releasing said striker controlling means and said lastmentioned means from its inoperative p-osition, and means for moving saidinterposed means into operative position.

16. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade` a striker movable in relation thereto means disposed externally of the grenade to control the striker, reciprocable means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position and movable into operative position with the striker and exploding means, means for releasing said striker controlling means and said lastmentioned means from its inoperative position, and means for thereafter moving said interposed means into operative position.

n 17. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a striker movable in relation thereto, means disposed externally of the grenade to control the striker, reciprocable means interposed between said striker and said exploding meansto discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position and movable ,into operative position with the striker and explodingf means', means for releasing sald striker controlling means and said last-mentioned means from its inoperative position, and means for moving said interposed means into operative position at will.-

18.. A. grenade comprising means for Y`exploding the grenade, a striker movable. in relation thereto, means disposed externally of the grenade to control the'striker, `reciprocable means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position and movable into operative position with the striker and exploding means, means for releasing. said striker controlling means and said last-mentioned'means from its inoperative position, and means for thereafter moving said interp osed means into operative position at will.

19. A grenade comprising means for exploding the grenade, a spring-impelled striker movable in relation thereto, means for controlling said striker, and means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and locked in inoperative position when said striker control means is locked to said interposed means, but movable into operative position when said striker-control means is n released.

2 0. A grenade comprising-means for exploding the grenade, a spring-impelled striker movable in relation thereto, means forl controlling said striker, and means interposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and locked I.in inoperative position when said strlker control means is locked to said interposed means, but manually movable into operative position when said striker-control means isreleased.

21. A grenade comprising meansfor exploding the grenade, a strlker movable in relation thereto, and means yinterposed between said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in lnoperative position, but transversely movable with respect to thestriker movement into operative position with the striker and exploding means.

22. A grenade comprising mear'is Jfor exploding the grenade, a striker movable'in relation thereto, and means interposed be# tween said striker and said exploding means to discharge the latter and held normally in inoperative position, but transversely and manually movable with respect to the striker movement into-operative position with the striker and exploding means.

23. A grenade comprising means for exi eld-normally in inoperative position, but

transversely movable with respect to the ploding means to discharge the latter and striker movement into operative position held normally in inoperative position but with the striker and exploding means. transversely and manually movable with re- 10 24. A grenade comprising means for exspect to the striker movement into operative 5 ploding the grenade, a striker movable n reposition with the striker and exploding lation thereto and reciproeable means intermeans. vposed between said striker and said ex- NIXON LEE. 

